Feeding into an Islamophobic Narrative

In the Middle East

Two captive Japanese men dressed in the now all too familiar orange prisoner’s garb, kneel in the desert sands with their black-clad executioner brandishing his knife. Islamic State is demanding a $200 million ransom for their release, but everyone knows that even if their demands are met, they may decide to kill their hostages anyway. Islamic State militants are not known for their scruples.

In Mosul, Iraq, last week, thirteen young teenagers were caught by Islamic State watching an Asian Cup soccer game between Iraq and Jordan. They may have known that under Islamic State’s imposition of Sharia Law the penalty would be harsh if they were caught, but they were boys. The charges against them were read out through a loudspeaker before all thirteen were mowed down under machine-gun fire. Under ISIS this is the penalty for entertainment. They were dragged out into the street and left to lie there. Parents of these youths were too afraid to claim the bodies for fear they would meet the same fate.

A woman was stoned to death for adultery – no mention of her male partner, but I doubt she committed the sin alone.

Two men were crucified, shot in the head and left to hang – the penalty for theft. Two others were accused of homosexuality. A crowd gathered to see what was happening as they were taken to the roof of a high building. One by one were they were tossed over the edge to their deaths.

The list goes on.

Back Home

A planned PEGIDA march in Dresden Germany has been banned for fear of jihadi reprisals against its leaders. Recently, Angela Merkel stressed that “Islam is part of Germany,” and vowed to defend Muslims against racist slurs and attacks. PEGIDA’s leaders are motivated by “prejudice, coldness, even hatred in their hearts.” She told parliament: “Hate preachers, violent delinquents who act in the name of Islam, those behind them, and the intellectual arsonists of international terrorism will be rigorously fought with all legal means at the disposal of the state.”

New York City may withdraw a report on terrorism to appease Muslims. The 92-page report, titled “Radicalization in the West: The Homegrown Threat,” angered critics who say it promotes “religious profiling” and discrimination against Muslims. But law-enforcement sources say removing the report now would come at the worst time — after mounting terror attacks by Islamic extremists in Paris, Boston, Sydney and Ottawa.

Have we already Crossed the Divide?

Eric Pickles, the minister for local government and communities wrote to more than 1000 imams last week asking them to explain to Muslims how Islam can be “part of British identity”. In the letter he argued that they had a duty to do more to fight extremism and root out anyone preaching hatred. Their response showed clearly where they stood with regard to their citizenship. They complained that they had “been singled out” and ducked neatly behind the usual tired old euphemisms to protect themselves. After all, Muslims are Muslims first and citizens of a country last.

“The letter has all the hallmarks of very poor judgment which feeds into an Islamophobic narrative, which feeds into a narrative of us and them,” Tahla Ahmad of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) told Sky News.

So is it Islamophobic to suggest that there may be a way for imams to help combat Islamist extremism? Obviously the answer is yes.

A report this week suggested that there may be a number of militant sleeper cells throughout Europe and U.S. waiting to rise up at a moments notice. The threats have been there in the past from Iran, and now from the Islamic State. Undoubtedly there are others affiliated with different militia waiting in the wings.

The West has shot itself in the foot and is now in a state of deep denial. If the kid screams give it what it wants – anything to silence it! “Enough!” is sometimes the only answer!